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Diet composition and obesity among Canadian adults

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by Kellie Langlois, Didier Garriguet, and Leanne Findlay

Abstract
Keywords
Findings
Authors
What is already known on this subject?
What does this study add?

Abstract

Background

The contribution of specific nutrients to obesity has not been definitively established. The objective of this study was to determine if an association exists between obesity and the relative percentages of fats, carbohydrates, protein and fibre in the diets of Canadians.

Data and methods

The data are from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey—Nutrition.  The analysis pertains to 6,454 respondents aged 18 or older who provided valid 24-hour dietary recall information and measured height and weight, and whose reported energy intake was considered plausible based on their predicted energy expenditure.  Logistic regression models with obesity status as the main outcome were conducted, controlling for potential confounders. All analyses were based on weighted estimates.

Results

When the effect of the control variables was taken into account, total kilocalories consumed increased the odds of obesity in men, and fibre intake decreased the odds.  Among women, only total kilocalories consumed was significantly associated with increased odds of obesity.

Interpretation

Higher consumption of kilocalories increased the odds of obesity, but the relative amounts of fats, carbohydrates and protein were generally not significant.  The sole exception was an association between higher fibre intake and lower rates of obesity among men.

Keywords

carbohydrate, energy intake, fat, fibre, protein, 24-hour recall 

Findings

The prevalence of obesity has been rising in Canada in recent decades. By 2004, 23.1% of adults were obese, nearly ten percentage points higher than in 1978 (13.8%). Dietary composition—the relative proportions of calories coming from fats, carbohydrates and protein, and intake of fibre— has been suspected of playing a role in obesity. However, few studies have examined the association between excess weight and the consumption of these nutrients, and the results are inconsistent. The unexpected and sometimes contradictory findings may be due to differences in sample size, time frames, and variations in how excess weight is measured. In addition, some of the studies could not account for key factors, including total energy intake and/or physical activity levels. Others were unable to adjust for under-reporting of calories consumed—a shortcoming of many nutrition studies. [Full text]

Authors

Kellie Langlois (1-613-951-3806; Kellie.Langlois@statcan.gc.ca), Didier Garriguet (1-613-951-7187; Didier.Garriguet@statcan.gc.ca) and Leanne Findlay (1-613-951-4648; Leanne.Findlay@statcan.gc.ca) are with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6.

What is already known on this subject?

  • The few studies that have examined the association between diet composition and obesity have methodological limitations and yield conflicting results.
  • No study has investigated the contribution of fats, carbohydrates, protein, and fibre to excess weight among Canadian adults.

What does this study add?

  • The number of calories consumed is more important in obesity than is the composition of a diet in terms of the relative percentages of fats, carbohydrates, and protein consumed.
  • Dietary fibre is associated with a reduced likelihood of obesity among Canadian men.